Mary Bengel is a Mindfulness teacher, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and restorative practice facilitator, and a SEL trauma informed yoga instructor with more than three decades of experience. Twenty years into her former music teaching career, multiple surgeries and chronic pain guided Mary to seek an alternative path to healing body, mind, and heart for education. Through Mindfulness and meditation she restored her overall well-being and love for teaching. With a passion for healing and lowering stress and anxiety, Mary is on a mission to offer strategies for restorative self-care for school communities, health care professionals, businesses, and all people interested in working or living a better life.
Mary is a mother of two and lives, teaches and podcasts from the Portland, Oregon area with her husband Jay. She and her husband Jay are also professional musicians in the Portland rock scene.
Mary holds certifications as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Trauma Informed Educator, SEL Facilitator (Social Emotional Learning) and Yoga Instructor.
Lessons
Lesson 1. Mindfulness Basics
To Do: After watching this video answer the following questions. Write down your answers in a journal or think about how you would answer these questions. 1. What is the definition of mindfulness in your own words? 2. Which of the people in the video surprised you the most by…
Lesson 2: Breath Practice
Try practicing when you are relatively calm. You can breathe in this way as many times as you like throughout your day. The next time you feel tension rise, breathe in this way.
Lesson 3: You Are Already Mindful!
Purpose: There are already moments in your life when you experience mindfulness. Recognizing these moments can help you cultivate mindfulness on demand, when you need it to help you reduce stress. -You can recognize your natural mindful moments when you are doing something you enjoy. -Your brain may become gently…
Lesson 4: Why Do I Get Anxious
In the video, the focus is on teens. But, it applies to everyone. Purpose: The more we know about how anxiety works in our brains and why anxiety occurs, we are better able to regulate and manage anxiety when it occurs. Why is this important? If we can notice anxiety…
Lesson 5: Anxiety or Excitement
Did you know that anxiety and excitement can have similar physical manifestations in your body? We tend to think of anxiety as bad and excitement as good. Anxiety can protect us and warn us about things that we should be cautious of or pay attention to. When we are better…
Testimonials
This workshop was very useful and helpful. I hope to put it into practice. The 4 and 5 minute mindfulness breathing was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep. And the 5 minute communication and listening to partner also good. I noticed that I needed to be a better listener.
Helped me calm down in stressful situations such as when I am pitching or batting.
It had helped with my self confidence on the court, im able to trust that i’m ready every night.
Latest Episodes
What Is Mindfulness?
Have you noticed there is a Mindfulness craze lately? Have you been wondering if it is just another quick fix or something only Yogi’s do? Well, you are right! But it is everything else in-between. Do your research. All over the world people are jumping on the Mindfulness band wagon.…
A Mindful New Year
Happy New Year friends! Take care of you in 2020. When you focus even a small amount of time each day on your mental, physical, & emotional wellness. You are also giving those around you the best version of yourself. Educators are givers and caretakers. While helping others, make a…
Letting Go-Living in Flow
Do you try to plan and control everything and everyone in your life? I don’t mean in a bad way. As educators, parents, or just plain people it is kind of our job! It is drilled into us at work to plan for what IS happening, what might happen, and…